Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Taking a Lesson from Trashy Tabloids

I'm about to jaunt off to my lengthy bi-monthly session at the hairdresser. It's the high, high price one pays for platinum hair -- quite literally. Although I'm not so keen on the amount of time it takes to slather burning bleach onto my scalp and snip my errant ends, I do love perusing the trashy magazines. It's my one chance to catch up on the cultural ongoings of this great nation. No one does tabloids like the Brits!

Writers could learn a thing or two from tabloid writing. Say what you like about such news outlets -- you have to admit, they're never boring. With punchy, rhythmic language, every word counts. Every sentence brings you deeper and deeper into the story, and just when you think you know what's happened, POW! They hit you with another twist.

They're in, they're out, and they leave you with a definite emotional reaction. What more could you ask for (facts aside)? Perhaps I've found a new calling. Move over, Piers Morgan!

I would prefer to listen to you over Piers Morgan any day! You'd rock the tabloid world! I'm with you, trashy magazines are awesome, as are trashy american shows (can't speak for others) but I love them!!!!

I do read People Magazine occasionally, but not In Touch or Us Weekly because the latter two rarely have quotes from the actual subjects of their articles. In a way the tabloids help people see that the celebrities aren't that much better off than regular people (aside from the millions of dollars and fancy clothes, of course).

I try so hard not to...BUT if I also wander to my hair dresser or a DR office I tend to grab OK or Life & Style..NO idea how it sucks me in...wait yes I do...its the darn fashion, its showing all those wonderful outfits & jewelry that sucks me in...

You are right though - it takes a certain talent to be able to work with such little space and such basic language to draw in the reader!

I love to look at them in the grocery line but can never bring myself to be a contributor to that. Only an admirer... such stories! Such imagination! We would all be famous if we could write that prodigiously.

Haha, I love tabloids, especially during beauty regimes. The pictures, the clothing, the facts. They are nice escapes and like all written escapes, I would have to agree with you that they've got a good skill about them!

Ha yes, sometimes those headlines simply demand that you go and read the article - and that is a useful lesson for a writer to learn! Sensational, outrageous and sometimes downright hysterical they might be - but you're right, they're never boring!

*cackles* They are so outrageous, aren't they. I never buy them because... frankly, I'm cheap, but MAN are they good for a laugh now and again. I actually really like the TWIST: they lead you to believe something totally wild and then give enough detail so you realize it is technically true, but totally different than the headline led you to believe.

I love tabloids (I'll admit it!) My dentist's office had the best ones... and now that I don't have to go every week, I miss them! Oooooh, I remember British tabloids... so trashy (read: awesome!) Miss those too!

LOL! I love this, Talli. I went to my hairdresser today and yes, guilty! I read some trashy mags. Oh, boy do they tear people apart. No wonder some of these TV personalities and/or actors are on drugs (you have to have layers of thick skin to endure disparaging remarks). So yes, I indulge reading these mags when I'm having my hair done. ;)

The only time I read the tabloids is when I'm at the supermarket and Angelina Jolie's face blares at me from the newstand as I wait to pay. I can't remember the last time I picked a tabloid up though. It's been years for sure.

I was researching magazines for places to submit articles and even then I avoided the tabloids. Looking at them makes my head ache.

But you are right that they have a knack for flashiness and catchy headlines. One is never left confused as to their meaning.

Spooky! I've been writing 1,000 word features for this market for the past fortnight, in a bid to get some extra income. But it's not as easy as I thought. One mag has asked to read the sensationalist account of how my dad predicted his DATE of death but the mag that I sent my *Two car crashes in 5 months - was Somebody trying to Kill me?!* told me it needed sex. Pardon me?

About Me

I write bittersweet and witty contemporary women's fiction. Born and raised in Canada, I now live in London, where I savour the great cultural life (coffee and wine).
Despite training as a journalist, I soon found I preferred making up my own stories--complete with happy endings. My novels have been short-listed as Best Romantic Reads at the UK's Festival of Romance and chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites.
To learn more about me, go to www.talliroland.com or follow me on Twitter: @talliroland.